What gift rewards a little girl for strength and grace?

What a child needs most is your love, and encouragement, and affirmations. Gifts are nice, but are not supposed to be an expression of appreciation when it's your own child. She wouldn't understand anyway - and if she did, you would be setting up a precedent; if she didn't then get a similar gift next year she would feel like a failure.

Gifts, like hugs and general encouragement need to be unconditional, and affirmations should be specific to the things she has done, at the time. A year is a very long time for a five-year-old... but maybe you could make a photo book together, or a computer journal of some sort to chart the year, for her to look back on when she's older.

I think having an entire day to treat her to her favorite things would be nice, you would know most of all what her favorite things would be. Doesn't even have to be a gift. Watch her favorite movie, cook her favorite food, play her favorite game. Give her a day of love. And if she likes something buy her a little memento so she can remember the day. Something like the build a bear workshop would be personal and It would give her something to keep forever.

http://www.buildabear.com/shopping/?sc_cid=ps:bing...

She's five, it's Christmas, get her what she wants, it doesn't have to be a meaningful gift. In all likelihood she won't understand your message and you will be disappointed that she plays with the box more than the gift.